The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-12-27
EUROPEAN TROOPS.
Praise for the Italians and swiss, but
England has thc Model soldier

leave in England and the continent,
had his eyes on things military while
ncross the water, says The NeV York.
Heraid.
What he saw TO admire among sol
licrs over there he will tell IN the De.
ccmbor number of The IN Regiment
Gazene, sprghtly little periodical,
edited and published by members of
The regiment
Sold crs are met so frequently over
there rs TO impress him with the mag
nitude of the burden their support
must entail. The english soldier, lc
says, is model in appearance. He is
strong aud athletic. very erect, with II
most soldierly carriage. His uniform is
clean, handsome. and well fitting, and
When seen on duty, with natty little
mp perched iauntily on the side of his
bad. cane in hand and well gloved.
Eie is in appearance the most distin-
gushed soldier in the world" Dis
linctive uniforms add greatly to the
spirit dc corps of the army, for every
uniform has history and a record
That is to be maintained. While he
lcems the English volunteers power
fu adjunct for national defense, he
thinks their organization and system
in many respects inferior to our Ma
tonal guard.
The armies of Holland aud Belgium
are insignificant, he thinks, compared
with those of the great powers of
Europe. The soldiers OF these coun-
Tries seem to have no pride in their
military duties, are not very muscular
or wei set up, are clean but very
slouchy, and their uniform, which
greatly resembles the service uniform
Of this state, is in strong contrast with
the handsome and closc-litting dress OF
the English troops.
Mr. Clark's reference to the French
soldier is very timely, and in view of
the present condition of affairs they
are very interesting; "French soldiers
are a disappointment, for they seem
spiritlcss dull, and Respondent. They
move about listlcssly. are slouchy in
gait and appearance, arc not always
neat and clean, do not appear to be
educated or specially intelligent; in
short. are not nc all The ideal soldiers
of the period. Their drill, as observed
in and about Pars, was careless and
Indifferent and their discipline is in
fcrior"
"The republic is not a,success in the
fostering of the French martial spirit
OF mainta ming the esprit de corps
which prevailed in former times. The
statue of the City of Strasburg stands
in the Place dc Ia Concordc among the
memorial statues in honor of the great
French cites draped with garlands
and emblems of morning; the Champs
de Mars is being occupied by immense
buildings for Il great industrial exhibit
ton; al emblematic of departed or
departing military power and glory.
The hope of France in the future seems
TO be in a peaceful industry rather than
in successful military achievements.
But with the dissatisfaction generally
existing in France, and especially in
Paris, with the present condition OF
public and business affairs, no one can
predict what change is imminent or
what revolution may do to revive the
martial spirit for which that country
was once famous.
OF Alsace and Lorraine he says: "a
tourist entering Germany at Strasburg
is impressed with the magnitude and
perfect on of the military establishment
of the empire. The extensive and won
derful Notifications. constructed by the
most eminent French engineers, have
been repaired or renewed, and another
great line of military defenses of recent
l,a oil N inn
mense garrison of troops, with every
possible military appliance ind Gates
that the Germans are IN the late French
provinces TO stay.
The German soldier, as seen at
Strasburg and in other parts of the
empire, is the result Of most careful
and thorough military organization for
a long series of years and OF military
system that has reached perfection.
He Is an educated man, physically and
mentally, and part of his education is
acquired under military discipline. lie
is not so dashng in his appearance as
the English soldier, but he shows in his
figure The result of thorough training
in athletic and gymnastic exercises. and
there is an air anu expression OF intelli-
gence and mental culture about the
German soldier not seen in the army of
any other nation. Ii uniform is
scrlpulously neat and clean; he IS So
b,r. quiet respectful, and obedient; he
IL faithful, loyal, aud patriotic. My OBJ
scryatlon of the German soldier leads
me to III nix that in physical develop
,nent. in military education in every de-
:aii. and in general education. which
includes the knowledge of several Ian
g,,ages. the German soldier has no SUI
perior or equal.
The Swiss establishment he considers
something like our National guard.